Faramir Fiction Archive

Because of You (NC-17)

Written by Sairalinde and Anorienbean

24 December 2008 | 98532 words

Chapter 8

As the days passed, Faramir grew stronger but he was still not able to use his arm, and the wound was still painful sometimes. His healing had seemed to slow somewhat after learning of Boromir’s death, as if the sadness itself made the healing slow.

Faramir still slept often and sometimes, even without asking, Haldir would sit tentatively on the edge of his bed or even nap beside him, though a little stiffly. He would always claim he was cold, although Faramir never really believed him.

The last day, Haldir had seemed restless and Faramir suspected it was because many of the Elven warriors were ready either for the next battle or to return home. And Haldir… would be stuck with him. Faramir had settled in for a nap some hours ago and at first did not know there was a visitor in their room, the Elves kept their voices quiet near the window. Instead of stirring or even going back to sleep, Faramir lay awake, listening to Haldir… enjoying the sound of his voice, if he were honest with himself. The other Elf was obviously one of Haldir’s captains, and though he was blond like Haldir his hair was more yellow than Haldir’s. In fact, Faramir found himself comparing almost everything about them. Haldir was taller, had broader shoulders, his posture absolutely perfect. He wasn’t relaxed and Faramir realized that Haldir likely didn’t often relax at all. Even with him… even when they were kissing Haldir always seemed on guard. ??He needs to learn to have a bit of fun… I wonder if he’ll at least stay in Gondor longer than to leave me at my father’s doorstep? I would like to show him so many things at home… ??

“Eringil thinks he is ready for battle, but I have ordered him home,” Haldir was saying to the other Elf. The other Elf happened to be his brother, though none would have guessed it had they been seen together. Haldir was just as commanding and harsh with his kin as he was with any of his other captains. “And if he requests another audience with me, tell him no. He is going back to the Golden Wood, and that is an order.” With a sigh, he looked out the window toward Gondor, then back at Orophin. He would have given anything to be the one leading the Elves into battle, but no matter how much he yearned for it, he would never disobey Celeborn. “You are to take your company to Gondor and help however you can. If you can spare them, Rúmil and his company are to proceed on to Ithilien. I suspect they shall be under attack again before too long. If you feel Gondor needs you both, he may stay and we will hope for the best for Ithilien. Do you have any questions captain?”

Orophin nodded as Haldir spoke, though not entirely understanding why they were to continue on, helping these men. Yes, they had been thankful, and yes the men of Rohan had been kind these last days but it still did not make sense to him why they were getting involved in the affairs of men after all this time. He also did not understand why Haldir was here with this man. He knew that his brother had been ordered to stay with him, the man, it was rumored, was someone of importance in Gondor but that meant little to him. “The king has offered us all the supplies we need for the journey… you still will not be coming with us? I… I am afraid I do not entirely understand Lord Celeborn’s reasoning, but as always I will follow orders,” Orophin said softly. “Do you have any other instructions?”

“It is not our place to question Lord Celeborn,” Haldir said a bit sharply, though he himself had questioned it since he’d been given his orders to stay with Faramir. “I am staying here until my charge is able to travel, then we shall make the journey to Gondor, where I will return him to his family. After that, I will resume command, with you as my second. You know the plan in case I do not make it to Gondor, or if I fall in battle – fight until we win or until the war is over, then return to Lothlórien. The Elves that are too sick to fight but are able to travel are leaving tomorrow morning. They will need a dozen or so guards to escort them home. You may or may not get volunteers for that task. I leave who you send to your discretion.” He paused, looked away for a moment and hardened his features. “And tell Rúmil that unless he learns to watch over his shoulder, he will be killed. More than once lately I have had to watch both his back and my own. I cannot afford to lose another captain after all the losses we have already sustained, so I expect him to pay better attention.”

Orophin looked down, feeling chastised when Haldir snapped at him. His tone was fairly mild comparatively though and he nodded. “I can already think of a few who have complained, they would be best sent home rather than putting others at risk,” Orophin answered and frowned deeply over Haldir’s description of Rúmil. “Rúmil is a good fighter, brother, we all make mistakes but I will remind him,” the other Elf did not take kindly to even Haldir insulting his brother as well as lover.

Faramir should probably feel ashamed for eavesdropping, it wasn’t as if he had a choice, he was a captive audience after all but… then he didn’t have to try so HARD to hear what the two were saying. When the other Elf called Haldir “brother” Faramir had to stifle a gasp. Brother? They were brothers? He blinked and looked from one to the other seeing some similarities in their looks but not enough to have made it obvious they were related. So this was one of the brothers Haldir spoke of? Why did they speak so… formally? They were not on duty and no other Elves were present? Then it dawned on him, Haldir’s behavior with everyone else who had visited this room. Even his own brothers were treated exactly like everyone else.

“There is no room for mistakes in battle, and if he does not learn that, I will demote him.” Haldir’s voice was cold and matter of fact. He didn’t want his brother to be killed of course, but had no idea how he would react if he was. Either way, he was fairly certain that neither Rúmil nor Orophin would miss him when he, Haldir, fell. It was better that way, he thought, remembering how upset Faramir had been at the loss of his brother. At least where Haldir and his siblings were concerned, there would be none of that.

Orophin’s mouth formed a thin line as Haldir spoke and he nodded. “Very well,” he answered though it was obvious he was still angry. “Of course I have seen what your mistakes earned you… how can you even stand it cooped in here day after day with… with a man of all things?” Orophin said with obvious distaste.

As the Elf spoke, Faramir felt his face heat with shame and was almost afraid to hear Haldir’s honest answer. The Elf thought him asleep, thought he wouldn’t know what he said so what if he spoke freely and what if those words… were something Faramir did not wish to hear?

Haldir’s face flushed a dark crimson before Orophin had time to even close his mouth. He grabbed his brother by the front of his tunic and easily lifted him from the floor, then pressed the startled Elf against the wall. “First of all, I made no mistake, and this is not a punishment,” he said in voice so low and filled with such anger, Orophin could only gape. Haldir was his brother, his captain, and was much bigger and more powerful than he was – that, combined with the look on his face made Orophin tremble with fear, something he had rarely, if ever, experienced. “Second of all, he is a good man, and almost died for me. I did not ask him to, he did not know me, but he took the blow that was meant to kill me. That shows more courage than I ever thought a man – any man could ever have, and I will not have you disrespect him in such a manner.” He glared at Orophin for a moment longer, and then abruptly released him, letting him fall the few inches to the floor. “I suggest you leave, captain, before I really loose my temper.”

Orophin was completely caught off guard, both by Haldir’s actions and his words. He stared at his brother, unable to speak before he was roughly released. He did not exchange another word with his elder; Orophin simply fled the room, completely dumbfounded by Haldir’s behavior. He’d never been a patient Elf, but to show such anger in protection of a man?

Faramir was wide eyed and practically gaping as he watched the events unfold before him. Haldir was defending him? Threatening his own brother! He doesn’t think I am a punishment. He thinks I am a good man. He wanted to smile but a part of him was truly worried for the other Elf for a moment. Faramir swallowed hard as he watched the other Elf practically flee the room and turned his eyes back to Haldir. He was still shaking with anger; he could see just the slightest tremor of it. Why would it matter what Orophin had said? Especially when Haldir didn’t know Faramir was listening. Or had he known? He used the excuse of the door slamming behind Orophin to say something. “Gods… what was that? Was someone here?” he asked, pretending he’d just awoken.

Haldir unclenched his jaw and turned to look at Faramir. The sight of the slightly tousled hair, wide eyes and innocent look on the man’s face made his anger slowly begin to drain away. The Elf that had just been furious a moment before gave a small smile without even realizing it. “Just one of my captains getting his orders,” he shrugged. “He left a bit quickly for some reason, and…” The words were cut off by a rather timid knock on the door, and Haldir opened it quickly, fully expecting Orophin or some other Elf. Instead, it was one of the healers, delivering the supplies for the day for Faramir’s wound change and bath, along with some of the herbs used for his pain. Haldir took the basket, nodded his thanks and spared a glare at Orophin, who hadn’t fled far, and was standing by the door whispering to Rúmil, who looked equally as discomfited. Both Elves turned to look at the healer with a bewildered look on their faces as Haldir took the basket. “Is there a problem?” Haldir asked the two Elves after the healer had backed away, sensing Haldir’s mood. “Is there something fascinating about this door that I do not know about? Or are you so efficient that you already have your companies ready to leave and are merely skulking around the hallways to waste time until I give you leave to go?”

Faramir felt his heart skip just a little from the smile that Haldir had given him but then someone knocked at the door. He leaned up as much as he could to try to see what was going on but couldn’t quite see anything besides the healer giving Haldir supplies.

“We… I… Rúmil was waiting when I left,” Orophin sputtered and before he could stop Rúmil the words were out of the younger Elf’s mouth. He’d seen the healer hand over the items and leave.

“You cannot tell me you are playing nursemaid? I thought you were to guard him? Haldir… you are not going to… bathe him are you?” Rúmil asked frowning and Orophin beside him was giving him a look of warning, already taking his arm to propel Rúmil away from Haldir if necessary.

Haldir’s anger flared back instantly. He had no idea why he was so protective of Faramir, but the very idea of his brother’s disdainful attitude toward him made him furious. One hand clenched at the doorframe as the other squeezed the handle of the basket in his hand so hard it broke into a dozen pieces and the basket fell to the ground. Haldir didn’t even notice. Instead, his eyes found Orophin’s and his eyes narrowed. “You should have him out of my sight before I demote him so far that emptying the chamber pots will be a step up,” he ground out even as he stepped toward Rúmil menacingly. “And make sure I do not see him again for a very, very long time.”

Rúmil was gaping “But… what?” and Orophin merely nodded and grabbed his arm marching the other bewildered Elf away quickly. The healer who had not left the hall yet had heard the Elf speak and had frozen in his tracks. He’d once accidentally probed a bit too hard at the unconscious man’s wound causing him to cry out and almost had his hand broken by the Elf. He had learned from that moment on that this patient was to be treated gently and carefully if he valued his own skin. He was curious to see how the Marchwarden would react, the Elf was so protective of the man that it made him curious enough to stay behind, despite the eyes that were boring into him now. He swallowed hard. “Nothing broken in the basket?” he called as if that were his excuse to staying to make sure he didn’t need to return with anything.

The whole time Faramir could not really see or hear what was going on but could tell something was wrong, when the door opened just a little wider he saw the same Elf as before and another very similar looking one next to him and then he heard the other Elf’s words. What was it with these Elves? If they hated men so much, why were they even there? The thoughts disappeared as Haldir threatened the Elf and Faramir simply stared at him.

“Nothing is broken,” Haldir said, regaining his composure as he watched his brothers retreating down the hallway. “I almost had another patient for you, but it seems he has been taken out of harm’s way.” With that, he stepped back, closed the door behind him and schooled his features once again, as if everything were perfectly normal. He had no idea Faramir had heard or seen anything unusual, and was going to do his best to act as if nothing had happened. “Now that you are awake, we might as well change those bandages and get you cleaned up a bit. It is bath day, you know.”

The old healer laughed a little when the Elf spoke of another patient and nodded before heading away again. The warrior was a strange one, he thought but… if that young man in that room were his son, he’d want someone that protective of him on hand.

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